Frequently Asked Questions
Applicant Resources
Explore answers to frequently asked questions about eligibility, funding, and the application process. Please review the Funding Guidelines before submitting a Letter of Intent.
To be eligible for funding consideration, an organization must be a nonprofit organization legally organized in the United States and recognized as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, OR be fiscally sponsored by a U.S.-based organization recognized as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3). Organizations must also meet the additional eligibility requirements outlined in the Foundation's Funding Guidelines.
The Foundation accepts Letters of Intent (LOIs) during designated submission periods announced on the Foundation's website. Organizations selected through the LOI review process may be invited to submit a Full Proposal. The Foundation does not accept unsolicited Full Proposals.
The Foundation accepts Letters of Intent only during designated submission periods. Current submission dates are available in the Funding Guidelines and on the Foundation's website.
The Foundation supports projects, programs, and initiatives that align with its mission and designated focus areas. Competitive requests typically seek to expand, strengthen, evaluate, replicate, or otherwise meaningfully advance an organization's work and demonstrate the potential for meaningful, measurable, and lasting impact.
The Foundation does not fund seed funding for new organizations, repayments of deficits, debts, or loans, political campaigns or lobbying activities, religious activities intended to promote a specific faith, individuals, or sponsorships of fundraising events. Please refer to the Funding Guidelines for a complete list of activities that are not eligible for funding.
No. The Foundation does not prescribe minimum or maximum grant amounts. Funding requests should be reasonable, well justified, and appropriate to the scope, complexity, anticipated outcomes, and overall budget of the proposed Project.
Yes. Funding requests may include indirect costs of up to 10% of the total amount requested.
Grant Periods typically range from one to three years, depending on the scope and nature of the proposed Project.
Following the close of each Letter of Intent submission period, applicants are typically notified of their LOI status within approximately two weeks. Organizations invited to submit a Full Proposal are provided with the applicable submission deadline, and final funding decisions are generally communicated within one to two weeks following the Board meeting.
Due to the volume of requests received, the Foundation is not able to provide individualized feedback regarding Letter of Intent or Full Proposal decisions.
Organizations should submit one Letter of Intent per Project during each submission period. If you are considering multiple requests, please contact the Foundation before submitting.
Questions regarding eligibility or the application process may be directed to info@joelwardfoundation.org. While the Foundation is happy to answer questions about eligibility and the application process, we are generally not able to provide pre-review or informal feedback on proposed Projects.
Organizations based outside the United States may be eligible to apply if they are fiscally sponsored by a U.S.-based organization recognized as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.